7 Days Xining & Lhasa & Namtso Lake Tour

Fly to Xining for the amazing Qinghai Lake, then by train ascending gradually from Xining to Lhasa, then all the way Gyantse, Shigatse and reach Everest for amazing Tibetan cultural and natural wonders.

Day 1Pickup from airport and escorted to Qinghai Lake

Day 2Drive back to Xining and visit Ta'er Monastery, by train to Lhasa

Day 3Pickup from train station and escorted to hotel for acclimatization

Day 4Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

Day 5Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery + Debate

Day 6Drive to visit Namtso Lake and back to Lhasa

Day 7Transfer to airport/train station for next city

ITINERARY

Day 1 Xining Arrival - Qinghai Lake
(B)

Transfer Via: Flight arranged by you

Highlights: Upon arriving in Xining, your local guide will meet you and drive you 3 hours to visit Qinghai Lake, stay overnight at Qinghai Lake.

Qinghai Lake: Located 130km from Xining and 3205m above the sea level, Qinghai Lake is the largest salt water lake In China. The lake is surrounded by amazing mountains and endless beautiful grasslands, you can enjoy the great views by walking, riding or biking. The lake is the paradise for birders, during summer time, the birds will be up to 100000.

Accommodations: Overnight at Qinghai Lake

qinghai lake

qinghai lake

Day 2 Qinghai Lake - Xining - Lhasa
(B,L)

Highlights: Today you will drive back to Xining city, and visit the famous Ta'erMonastery, then embark your lifetime Qinghai-Tibet Train to Lhasa. Enjoy the fantastic plateau views along this highest railway in the world.

Ta'er Monastery: As the birthplace of the Tibetan Buddhism master – Tsongkhapa Ta'er Monastery is one of the most famous 6 monasteries of Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and a very important institute to learn Buddhism, Astronomy and Medicine. There are many Buddhist ceremonies organized here in each year. The 3 treasures of Ta'er Monastery are murals, barbola and butter sculptures.

Accommodations: Overnight soft sleeper train arranged by us

taer monastery

tibet train

Day 3 Lhasa Arrival
(B)

Highlights: Today after the amazing views along Qinghai Tibet railway, your train will arrive in Lhasa. Welcome to Lhasa! Today upon your Lhasa arrival, you will be greeted by your Tibetan guide and escorted to hotel. Rest of the day you will have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude.

Tips:

The altitude in Lhasa is about 3,650m above sea level. Take time out to relax and acclimate to the high altitude after arrival at your hotel. We recommend that you avoid strenuous activity for the first few days. It is advisable that you not take showers. For first time visitors, it is common to have different degrees of high altitude sickness symptom. Drink more water, have fresh fruit and plenty of rest will help to prevent the sickness. Have a good rest tonight, and get ready for tomorrow's journey.

Accommodations: Stay overnight in Lhasa

tibet train

barkhor street

Day 4 Lhasa
(B)

Elevation: 3500m

Highlights: Today you will visit the famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

Potala Palace: Which is known as the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the residence of the Dalai Lama lineages. Stands 13 stories high and owes over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues, the Potala Palace formed a small world in it.

Jokhang Temple: Listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2000 as part of the Potala Palace,Jokhang Temple is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Pilgrims. The temple is a four-storey timber complex with a golden top, with the combination of Tang Dynasty, Tibetan and Nepal architectural styles. Every day, pilgrims come from every corner of Tibet worship here, make it a perfect site for photograpers.

Barkhor Street: As the oldest street in Lhasa, Barkhor Street is considered as the center of the old city, and a perfect place to lear Tibetan culture, economy, religion, and arts. The street is full of handicarfts, such as ornaments, knives, tangka, religious musical instruments, gold and silver ware, masks and a lot more. If you intend to buy some souvenirs for friends or famiy, Barkhor Street will be an ideal place.

Tips:

1) Some visitors might feel a bit hard to breath when climbing the Potala Palace, so please climb slowly.

2) Some places are not allowed to take photos, please kindly inquire your guide for details.

3) When shopping around Barkor Street, you can compare and bargain for the unique souvenirs

4) During the summer time, the musical fountain show at the Potala Plalace Square is 19:30—22:00PM.

5) Please bring water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses for today’s tour as you will be at outside for a long day.

Accommodations: Overnight in Lhasa

potala palace

jokhang temple

Day 5 Lhasa
(B)

Elevation: 3500m

Highlights: Today you will visit Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and enjoy the debate.

Drepung Monastery: Located 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the western suburb of Lhasa, Drepung Monastery is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It is considered one of the 'Three Great Monasteries' (the other two are the Ganden Monastery and the Sera Monastery. Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the appearance of a heap of rice. As such, it was given the name 'Drepung‘, which, in the Tibetan language, means 'Collecting Rice..

Sera Monastery: Which is located in the northern suburb of Lhasa City. The monastery was named Sera which means wild rose in the Tibetan language, because the hill behind it was covered with wild roses in bloom when the monastery was built. From of Mon ~ Fri, every afternoon, you ll be able to see monks debating at Sera Monastery.

2) Please bring water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses for today’s tour as you will be at outside for a long day.

Accommodations: Overnight in Lhasa

drepung monastery

sera monastery

Day 6 Lhasa - Namtso Lake - Lhasa
(B)

Distance: 500km round-way Drive: 10 hrs Elevation: 4730m

Highlights: This morning you will get up early to catch a 4hrs drive to visit the Tibetan holy lake--Namtso Lake. The high plateau sceneries of yaks, sheep, grasslands, snow mountains will certainly impress you. After spending some time at Namtso Lake,you will be driven back to Lhasa.

Namtso Lake: Located 250km aways from Lhasa, sitting at 4,718 meters above sea level, Namtso Lake is the highest lake in the world and one of the 3 holy lakes in Tibet and one of the 5 most beautiful lakes in China. The Namtso Lake is highly adored by the local Tibetans, during the Tibetan year of sheep, pilgrims from far away come to walk around the lake for pilgrimage, which ttakes over ten days to complete. With the lake surface assuming sky blue, the lake and the sky seem to form a perfect picture, makes visitors feel themselves are strolling in a fairy land.

Accommodations: Overnight in Lhasa

namtso lake

namtso lake

Day 7 Lhasa Departure
(B)

Transfer Via: Flight arranged by you

Highlights: Today you will be escorted to airport for the flight to next city, the lifetime Tibet tour ends.

WHAT IS INCLUDE

All Tibet travel permits

Meals as listed in itinerary

Accommodation as listed in itinerary

Domestic flights/trains if listed in itinerary

Lisenced local English-speaking tour guides

Private transportation with experienced drivers

Entrance ticket fees for attractions listed in itinerary

Oxygen for emergey usage (Only for the groups going to Everest or Kailash area)

WHAT IS EXCLUDE

China Visa

Personal expense

Travel insurance (Recommended)

International flights to and out of China

Tips and gratitude to tour guides and drivers

Meals if not specified in the itinerary (Average meals cost is USD5-8/per)